Aviators, well I am at it again…here I will document my trials and tribulations of my ‘new’ kit build experience. If you are interested to visit and know more PM me, and we setup something on a weekend...I am in Hartbeespoort Dam at The Coves, fly or drive in.

With an empty workshop and idle hands, I had to find something to build again, BUT WHAT?

I am blessed to have built and own a RV7 and RV10, and own a trike.
• The RV7 is my sports car of the skies, fast agile and aerobatic,
• The RV10 is my family cruiser, lots of space for four and luggage, lots of power and speed, very stable IFR platform, to go touring with.
• My Microlight Trike is my scooter of the skies, low and slow, open cockpit to enjoy the splendor of flight and take it all in.

So you kind of see my dilemma. WHAT NEXT? I was looking for something:
1. Different and unique,
2. To learn new skills,
3. Not break the bank (I didn't want to spend a R1 million on a plane)
4. Fast to build (I don’t want to spend another 2,000 hours)

That is when I stumbled across Airdrome Aeroplanes (AA) and their World War 1 fighter replicas. There is SOMETHING MAGICAL about those old WW1 fighter planes, the bare essence of flying. AA ticked all my boxes.

It is different and unique, how many WW1 fighter replicas do you know of? I will be learning new skills, as it is a Aluminium Tube and Ceconite Covering build. They are dirt cheap and fast to build 250-500H.

With the Kit manufacturer chosen, Airdrome Aeroplanes, I had to decide which model since Airdrome Aeroplanes (AA) has more than 25 x WW1 Replica models and various sizes available.

Man I would love a Fokker Tri Wing DR-1 ala Red Barron, but I think for a first time building with new techniques it will be difficult build with 3 wings. The full scale 100% replicas give lots of extra speed and utility, but they are BIG and they cost a whole lot more for the kit and engine (Anycase I have 2 practical airplanes the RV7 and RV10 I can use)

So that is when I fell in love with the Fokker E-III ‘Eindecker’ at 75% Scale.

FANTASTIC.jpeg

The Fokker E-III design embodies the essence of an airplane and should be a hoot to fly. The wing is situated in the middle of the fuselage, inline with the engine thrust line. The wing is straight and does not have any dihedral, so the roll response should be great. The pilot sit right in the heart in the middle of the wing, "strapping" the wing on at his shoulders. The E-III fuselage is tiny and sleek, basically just there to hold the wings and the tail together, and have a place to hang an engine on. It is a full flying tail so it is small with less drag and does not have a vertical stabiliser or horizontal stabiliser so yaw and pitch should be very response. This model compared to others like the Bi and Tri wings should be simple to build.

BUDGET: My initial budget is set at R150,000 and 500hours build time ready to fly, that consist of a New Kit, Good midlife Rotax 582, sparse avionics (2nd hand and donated).

SUMMARY: The Fokker E-III should be very responsive little airplane with no frills, a true fighter plane. Something I can jump in and go fly around the patch to get my flying fix and dump work related stress.

A bit of history on the original Fokker E-III ‘Eindecker’ and what made it unique and stand out.

AA History.jpg

The Fokker E-III was considered the 1st True Fighter Airplane in history, because it was the first airplane to properly integrate a weapon, a machine gun into the airplane. It was fitted with a synchronization gear, enabling the pilot to fire a machine gun through the arc of the propeller without striking the blades.

The Eindecker machine gun gave the German Air Service air superiority from July 1915 until early 1916. This period, during which Allied aviators regarded their poorly armed aircraft as "Fokker Fodder", became known as the "Fokker Scourge" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_Scourge).

The Allied aviators had better performing airplanes, but the accuracy of the straight on machine gun of the Eindecker meant the Germans could simply point their airplanes head-on and shoot.

The nickname Eindecker means ‘single wing’ monoplane and it used wing warping for control instead of ailerons similar to the original Wright Brother control method. The wing typical of the aera is an undercambared wing. In comparison the modern day replica I am going to build has Ailerons and a trusty Clark Y wing profile.

Very cool indeed, this is "real" amature build aeries
I am interested to see what the CAA will do WRT the design criteria and wing load tests.

I was forced to employ an engineer at considerable costs (10 years ago) to do a whole design criteria, predicted performance ect on the SW 18 I was building ,even though it was a plans built plane out of the USA. I even had to do a static load test on the wing ,The CAA regs at the time were "first of production aircraft or protoripe aircraft".....mine was not one of the two but the engineering dept did not want to hear my story,"just do the test" I was told

Anyway, I will be tuned into your build with great interest
Many moons ago I startrd to draw up my own plans for a 80% EIII from wood but never got round to completing it

Theuns v V wrote:Very cool indeed, this is "real" amature build aeries
I am interested to see what the CAA will do WRT the design criteria and wing load tests.

I was forced to employ an engineer at considerable costs (10 years ago) to do a whole design criteria, predicted performance ect on the SW 18 I was building ,even though it was a plans built plane out of the USA. I even had to do a static load test on the wing ,The CAA regs at the time were "first of production aircraft or protoripe aircraft".....mine was not one of the two but the engineering dept did not want to hear my story,"just do the test" I was told

Anyway, I will be tuned into your build with great interest
Many moons ago I startrd to draw up my own plans for a 80% EIII from wood but never got round to completing it

Will you be building a kit or scratchbuild?

T

Hi Theuns, It will be an Established Kit build with all materials supplied...

I have been chatting to CAA this past week and it seems some normality has returned...

From my chats it seems they are making 2 clear distinctions now.a) Amateur Build vs "Commercial"
Amateur Build is for own use and education "Non Profit" vs "Commercial" AMO's, Manufacturing houses and Production facilities building kits to sell for profit to public. I think over the years people have been abusing the real intent behind Amateur build and extended it to make profit. If you doing it for profit selling to the public, the design needs more scrutiny than Amateur build. So if it is done for profit CAA is more keen to have proper information on the kit and scrutinise it more...think of 'responsibility towards public purchaser vs amateur go fly at your own peril over un-populated areas'

b) (Completely New designs and Plans Built) vs Established Kit build
New designs (1st of type ever) need to be design substantiated, predicted and then physically load tested.
Plans built where the builder supplies all the materials, will also get scrutinised more and the extend will depend on type and construction used, based on their discretion of risk.
Established Kit build where everything is supplied and there are flying examples, will get less scrutinised.

I am building it Amateur non profit for my education, from an Established Kit all materials supplied, Not deviating from design, with known flying examples. I am told I will not need to supply Engineering Analyses OR Perform Static wing tests. This makes sense in a rational world, and mimics USA thinking with largest experimental aviation fleet

Now this is all still hearsay and chats. The proof will be to wait and see what happens to my Build Number application.

Keep you posted.
Groete,
Rudi

Last edited by RudiGreyling on Mon May 01, 2017 8:36 am, edited 2 times in total.

What type of approval would my aircraft be eligible for?
SACAA does not approve or certify amateur-built aircraft. Your aircraft would be eligible for a Build Number during certification consideration.

Seems cool. Even though my aerie was not prototipe or first of tipe they still made me do aal the costly stuff There was another sw18 that was already load tested and the insisted on the same for me...ah well it is in the past

I am looking forward to seeing your build, is it only riveted joints or do they glue them aswell?

I would assume the allu would be 6061T6?
Do they supply averything in the kit metal wize? Finding extrutions locally is a hassle.

Fabric also supplied in kit or do you have to get locally?

Here is some insperation for you.....my 1/72 E2

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Rudi, did you see on that Nieport build video that his Rotec 2800 failed on him TWICE, once at 80 hours, and again after coming back from Rotec factory another 50 hours later.... not very confidence inspiring.

I found these interesting but expensive radial engines, might be something for your build:www.vernermotor.com
their 7h motor produces 117hp at 81kg!

Go for it Rudi !! - I'm watching carefully how you progress. I have often thought about vintage WW1 as a project option - Eindecker (full scale) or SE5a were always at the top of my list and I see that Aerodrome now has a full scale SE5a in their offerings.. also not at a price to break the bank (Full kit Items 1 to 12) (http://www.airdromeaeroplanes.com/images/S-E-5a.pdf)

You're the brave one here, and all of us cowards are watching how your build goes, how the kit bits fit etc. I have this funny feeling that if it goes well for you, then Rob Baslee will be getting a lot of long distance calls

More power to your riveter.

There are three simple rules for making a perfect landing. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.
I was flying in uniform when you were still in liquid form

I am looking forward to seeing your build, is it only riveted joints or do they glue them aswell?

I would assume the allu would be 6061T6?
Do they supply averything in the kit metal wize? Finding extrutions locally is a hassle.

Fabric also supplied in kit or do you have to get locally?

Here is some insperation for you.....my 1/72 E2

Theuns, Like that RC Model.
Airdrome Airplanes Kit supplies EVERYTHING for the whole airframe. All the 6061 Tube All the hardware all the rivits all the bolts, all the steel parts, EVERYTHING but color paint for the airframe. There are 12 sub kits or the DELUXE all in one, that includes covering fabric and cope. You can buy an engine from them, but engine accessories and avionics they don't sell.

Bodumatau wrote:Rudi, did you see on that Nieport build video that his Rotec 2800 failed on him TWICE, once at 80 hours, and again after coming back from Rotec factory another 50 hours later.... not very confidence inspiring.

I found these interesting but expensive radial engines, might be something for your build:http://www.vernermotor.com
their 7h motor produces 117hp at 81kg!

Rotec seems nice, but i did see that, that worries me. Anycase Rotec is expensive for the 75% scale airplane.
I will fit a Trusty Rotax 582 for my 75% scale build thank you.